Minnesota Now

For the first time in 24 years, voters in Hennepin County are voting for a new county attorney.

The Hennepin County Attorney is the final word on who is charged with a crime, what crime, and what sentence is recommended. They also have a hand in protecting elders from fraud and cases that involve child protection.

This year there are a record seven candidates running for office and Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer is talking to every single one of them. In this installment we hear from Tad Jude. He was the youngest person elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives at age 20 in 1972. He served as a district court judge in Washington County from 2010 until January 2022. He resides in Maple Grove.

Early voting in this race is happening now and lasts until Aug. 8. Hennepin County residents can find more information on how to register and polling locations on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

We make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

It’s a jungle out there folks. Blooming plants are living it up and animal parents across the region are teaching their young how to do what they do. John Latimer gives us a glimpse of what’s happening in nature across Minnesota. John is phenologist - a person who observes the changes in nature through the seasons. He is based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Jury selection is underway today in Aitkin County for a case believed to be the first of its kind in the nation. At issue is whether the rights of a McGregor Minnesota woman were violated when her local pharmacist refused to fill a prescription for emergency contraception. The pharmacist cited his religious beliefs for the refusal. John Reinan is a reporter at the Star Tribune who has been following this case for the past three years. He joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk more about what happened.

Listen to the full show here.

Aug. 1 is the 15 year anniversary of the day I-35W bridge in Minneapolis fell into the Mississippi River during the evening rush hour. The unbelievable tragedy was completely unexpected and took the lives of 13 people. Several drivers were rescued from the river - including Lindsay Walz. She was in her car on her way home from work and her story of survival is remarkable. Host Cathy Wurzer met Walz at the I-35W Remembrance Garden near the bridge to talk about how she made it through.

For the first time in 24 years, voters in Hennepin County are voting for a new county attorney.

The Hennepin County Attorney is the final word on who is charged with a crime, what crime, and how sentence is recommended. They also have a hand in protecting elders from fraud and cases that involve child protection.

This year there are a record seven candidates running for office and Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer is talking to every single one of them. In this installment we hear from Paul Ostrow. He is a former Minneapolis city council member and he was president of that body. Ostrow is currently an assistant county attorney in Anoka County. He lives in northeast Minneapolis.

Early voting in this race is happening now and lasts until Aug. 8. Hennepin County residents can find out more information how to register and polling locations on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.

For the first time in 24 years, voters in Hennepin County are voting for a new county attorney.

The Hennepin County Attorney is the final word on who is charged with a crime, what crime, and how sentence is recommended. They also have a hand in protecting elders from fraud and cases that involve child protection.

This year there are a record seven candidates running for office and Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer is talking to every single one of them. In this installment we hear from Martha Holton Dimick. She was the first community prosecutor assigned to north Minneapolis when she worked at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in 1999. Dimick was then a judge in North Minneapolis until her retirement last year and lives in North Minneapolis.

Early voting in this race is happening now and lasts until Aug. 8. Hennepin County residents can find out more information how to register and polling locations on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.

A COVID testing company that operates in Minnesota is accused of fraud and profiteering. Our colleagues at APM Reports investigate. We'll have the story.

A Minnesota company has a major deal with major league baseball. We'll talk to the owners about their dream come true.

Farmers are under stress from drought conditions and war abroad. We hear how they're making do.

The North Star Gay Rodeo is this weekend in Hugo, Minn.

Wally and Eric are back to talk sports.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

We make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

It’s nearing the end of July. Time for football. It seems early but the Vikings are in training camp and the UMN Gophers are aiming for a national championship. There’s a lot to talk about with Wally Longfellow is the founder of Minnesota Score magazine and the cohost of “Ten-thousand Takes” sports talk show. Eric Nelson is the other host of “Ten-thousand Takes” and the Minnesota Vikings reporter for CBS Sports Radio “Eye on Football”.

This weekend the North Star Gay Rodeo Association will put on its yearly rodeo in Hugo, Minnesota. The two-day event welcomes members of the LGBTQ community to come show off their best wrangling, riding, and roping skills. Jorge Sanchez is President of the North Star Gay Rodeo Association. He joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk more.